Rights of the Child: Optional Protocol

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they intend to ratify the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.

Baroness Amos: The UK signed the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography in September 2000 and does intend to ratify this instrument.

India and Pakistan

Lord Ahmed: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they are taking to prevent the possibility of a nuclear war over the escalating tension between India and Pakistan along the line of control and international borders.

Baroness Amos: My right honourable friend the Prime Minister has spoken several times during the current crisis in South Asia to President Musharraf and Prime Minister Vajpayee. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs is in frequent contact with his Indian and Pakistani counterparts and other international partners about this issue. He most recently spoke to his Indian counterpart on 18 May. We are urging Pakistan to clamp down visibly and definitively on terrorism, in line with the commitments given in President Musharraf's speech of 12 January. We continue to impress on both countries that their differences will best be resolved through dialogue, not violence.

Juvenile Offenders: Electronic Monitoring

Lord Jones: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have to apply electronic monitoring technology to juveniles released from the custodial part of the detention and training order.

Lord Rooker: Section 62 of the Criminal Justice and Courts Services Act 2000 provides for the electronic monitoring of prisoners released on licence. By virtue of Section 62(5)(a), this includes young people during the community element of a detention and training order (DTO).
	Electronic monitoring of those released from detention and training orders is already available in 84 youth offending team areas as part of the Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme overseen by the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales.
	Section 102(4) of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 empowers the Secretary of State to release an offender, in the case of an order of eight months or more but less than 18 months, one month before the half-way point; and, in the case of an order of 18 months or more, one month or two months before that point.
	The availability of electronic monitoring enables us to consider how we can make further use of the powers in Section 102(4) to provide a useful transitional phase in the reintegration of trainees from custody back into the community.
	We therefore propose to use electronic monitoring as a condition of the release of trainees serving a DTO of eight months or more for a period of one or two months prior to their current release at the half-way point. This form of release will be a normal feature of DTOs except in the case of trainees convicted of sex offences or serious violent offences. The possibility of release on electronic monitoring at this stage in the DTO will not be available to trainees who have exhibited violent or destructive behaviour to people or property within the secure facility or made exceptionally bad progress against the training plan as a result of consistent failure to co-operate or failure to take responsibility for their behaviour.

Criminal Cases Review Commission

Lord Jones: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What re-appointments or appointments are to be made to the Criminal Cases Review Commission.

Lord Rooker: Her Majesty has approved the re-appointment for a further term of the following existing members of the Criminal Cases Review Commision:
	Sir Frederick Crawford (Chairman)
	Mr Laurence Elks
	Mr Tony Foster
	Mr Karamjit Singh
	Mr Baden Skitt.
	Her Majesty has also approved the appointments of:
	Mr Michael Allen
	Mr Mark Emerton
	Mr John Weeden. Huw

Wrongfully Convicted Prisoners

Lord Desai: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have concluded their consideration of the report of the working group on an advice service for wrongfully convicted prisoners and whether they have made final decisions on the matter.

Lord Rooker: After careful consideration of the report and recommendations of the working group, we have decided to establish an advice service for such individuals. The service will operate as a pilot project for an initial period of 12 months and will be provided by the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux. The project will be subject to rigorous monitoring and evaluation during this pilot phase. Decisions on future service provision will be made in the light of evidence from the evaluation. To inform the evaluation process we have also decided to establish a consultative group whose members will be drawn from a range of organisations and individuals with an interest in this issue. Expressions of interest in membership of this group are now being invited.

Lymphoma

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the latest figures for the incidence of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and Hodgkin's disease in the United Kingdom, categorised by sex and age; and what is the percentage rise in incidence since 1982.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from the National Statistician, Len Cook, dated May 2002. Huw
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question on the latest figures for the incidence of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and Hodgkin's disease in the United Kingdom, categorised by sex and age; and the percentage rise in incidence since 1982. (HL4248)
	The latest available cancer incidence figures are for the year 1998. The number of registrations of newly diagnosed cases of Hodgkin's disease and NHL by sex and age group for the United Kingdom are given in the table below.
	
		Registrations of newly diagnosed cases of Hodgkin's disease and NHL, by sex and age group, 1998, United Kingdom -- Number of cases
		
			  Hodgkin's disease(1)   Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma(2) 
			 Age group Male Female Male Female 
			 0–14 43 17 75 25 
			 15–24 118 95 62 52 
			 25–34 155 159 176 118 
			 35–44 150 93 337 210 
			 45–54 96 67 609 464 
			 55–64 78 56 887 715 
			 65–74 97 68 1,169 1,070 
			 75–84 41 50 919 1,030 
			 85+ 6 21 267 429 
			  
			 All ages 784 626 4,501 4,113 
		
	
	Sources:
	England, Office for National Statistics.
	Wales, Welsh Cancer Intelligence and Surveillance Unit.
	Scotland, Information and Statistics Division.
	Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Cancer Registry.
	(1) ICD10 code C81.
	(2) ICD10 codes C82–85.
	Cancer incidence data for 1982 are not available for Northern Ireland. The percentage changes in incidence of Hodgkin's disease and NHL for Great Britain between 1982 and 1998 are given in the table below.
	
		Age standardised rates(1) for Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, 1982 and 1998, Great Britain 
		
			  Hodgkin's disease(2)Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma(3) 
			  1982 1998 % change 1982 1998 % change 
			 Male 3.0 2.7 -13 8.7 14.3 +65 
			 Female 1.8 2.7 +48 6.0 10.4 +72 
		
	
	(3) Per 100,000 population, using the European standard population.
	(4) ICD9 code 201, ICD10 code C81.
	(5) ICD9 codes 200 and 202, ICD10 codes C82–85.

Aid and Development

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their response to the European Commission proposal for an international air transport tax to finance aid and development; and whether such a tax would be an effective and more workable alternative to the currency transactions tax.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Government are committed to exploring the full range of options for increasing the amount of finance available for development purposes. However, as the Commission's February 2002 report Responses to the Challenges of Globalisation made clear, there are a number of practical issues such as coverage and enforcement that would need to be resolved before any of these proposals could become feasible. International initiatives such as these, which require co-ordinated implementation, rely ultimately on the political will of many national governments to make them work.

CI7 Transport

Lord Gilbert: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much they anticipate saving (a) in the current financial year and (b) in subsequent financial years from the discovery that Tornado aircraft can be loaded inside a C17 transport for roulement purposes.

Lord Bach: The RAF's decision to use the C17 from December 2001 to transport its Tornado F3 to the Falkland Islands is expected to release approximately 324 flying hours and 300 man hours per roulement. These resources are being redeployed by the RAF to undertake training and other tasks, so a cash saving will not accrue. Each of the four Tornado aircraft are returned to the United Kingdom for servicing every 18 months and a turnover of approximately one aircraft every nine months is planned. Huw

Rights of the Child: Optional Protocol

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they intend to ratify the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict.

Lord Bach: Yes. Officials in both the Ministry of Defence and Foreign and Commonwealth Office are working actively towards ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvment of children in armed conflict, and we hope to be in a position to ratify soon. As part of the ratification process, an explanatory memorandum will be laid before Parliament to explain the significance of the Optional Protocol.

Eurofighter

Baroness Turner of Camden: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What date Eurofighter is expected to enter service with the Royal Air Force.

Lord Bach: My honourable friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Dr Moonie) made clear on 26 February 2002 (Official Report, col. 1139W) to the honourable Member for North Essex (Mr Jenkin) in another place that the June 2002 in-service date for Eurofighter was becoming increasingly challenging to achieve. Although good progress has been made by industry, with the first three instrumented production aircraft achieving successful first flights in early April, delays in bringing the detailed design to full maturity in some areas prevented the flight test programme from starting on time.
	Following a thorough review of the programme involving the partner nations, the NATO agency responsible for undertaking the procurement and industry, we have jointly concluded that acceptance of the first aircraft into service should be delayed, to take place by the end of this year, and we shall plan on that basis. We shall now be working hard with industry to recover lost time and achieve the planned operational employment date in the second half of the decade, thus avoiding any gap in front-line capability or extra costs to the Ministry of Defence. The delays are disappointing but reflect the complexity of the project and the major advance in technology it represents. Initial flights of the instrumented production aircraft have been impressive and the Government remain fully committed to this contribution to the United Kingdom's military capability.

Postal Services

Earl Russell: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the answer by the Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 30 April (HL Deb, col. 569), whether they will list the countries to which Lord Sainsbury referred which run a postal service as a competitive enterprise while at the same time maintaining a universal service.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: In Sweden, Finland and New Zealand there is no reserved postal sector while the universal postal obligation continues to be maintained.

New Forest

Baroness Nicol: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they intend to set up a local inquiry to consider the designation order for a New Forest national park.

Lord Whitty: Under Schedule 1 to the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949, an inquiry must be held into the designation order if a local authority has objected and the objection has not been withdrawn. Several local authorities have lodged objections, which are being maintained. A letter is being sent to all those who have made objections or representations advising them that a local inquiry is to be held and what the scope of the inquiry will be. A copy of the letter is in the Library of the House. The inquiry is expected to start in October.

Traffic Lights at Intersections

Lord Methuen: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the criteria for the installation of traffic lights at intersections on trunk roads; and whether the intersections in Derbyshire of the A6 and the B5023 at Duffield and the A6 and the B5057 at Darley Dale meet these criteria.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Tim Matthews, to write to the noble Lord.
	Letter from the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Tim Matthews, dated 23 May 2002.
	The Minister of State, Lord Falconer of Thoroton, has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the criteria for the installation of traffic lights at intersections on trunk roads; and whether the intersections in Derbyshire of the A6 and the B5023 at Duffield and the A6 and the B5057 at Darley Dale meet these criteria.
	The criteria for the installation of traffic signals at trunk road intersections are set out in the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges, published jointly by the Highways Agency, the Scottish Executive, the National Assembly for Wales and the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland. They involve the collection of a considerable amount of background data, including the performance of the junction, traffic volumes and accident details.
	In order to investigate whether the intersections of the A6/B5023 at Duffield and the A6/B5057 at Darley Dale meet the criteria, detailed investigations would be required, which would take some time to complete. As you may be aware, the A6 is due to be de-trunked with effect from 1st July, when responsibility for its management will transfer to Derbyshire County Council, and negotiations are currently in progress with the County Council about the handover. We have therefore alerted the County Council to your question.
	If you would like any further information, Steve Forgham, the Highways Agency's Area Manager for this length of the A6, would be pleased to help. He can be contacted at the Agency's offices at Broadway, Broad Street, Birmingham B15 1BL, or by telephone on 0121 678 8506.

Bishopsgate Goodsyard

Lord Redesdale: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Given that the East London line project lacks a private funding partner and that the construction start date is still some way off, whether they consider that the proposed demolition by London Underground Ltd at Bishopsgate goodsyard is premature.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: This is a matter for London Underground Ltd, in the exercise of the powers granted to it under the London Underground (East London Line Extension) Order 1997. Huw

English Regions

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the recent publication of their White Paper Your Regions, Your Choice: Revitalising the English Regions, how they will gauge whether or not there is sufficient public interest to trigger a regional referendum; and what procedure is to be adopted for holding such a referendum.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Chapter 9 of the White Paper, Your region, Your Choice, sets out the process by which an elected assembly can be established in a region. Box 9.1 sets out the key features of a referendum on an elected regional assembly, while paragraphs 9.2 to 9.4 discuss the process by which we will decide which region or regions should hold a referendum first. We will say more in due course about how we will gauge public interest and we have given a commitment to take decisions only after consulting all eight regions.

Civil Aviation

Lord Rotherwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether new regulations dealing with civil aviation in the United Kingdom will no longer come before the British Parliament when the European Safety Agency is operating fully.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The draft EC regulation setting up the European Aviation Safety Agency provides the framework for a new European regulatory system and has been subject to UK parliamentary scrutiny procedures. It sets out basic principles and essential safety requirements with regards to aircraft and product certification. Further EC regulations, also subject to UK parliamentary scrutiny, will be required to extend the scope of the system, including essential safety requirements, to other areas of civil aviation, initially for operators and personnel.
	Member states will continue to play a major role in the new system. Many of the European safety standards will be implemented by existing national aviation authorities. The Civil Aviation Authority will continue to issue a range of certificates and approvals under UK regulations which will be subject to normal parliamentary processes. Huw

Theatres: Lottery Funding

Lord Fearn: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many London theatres have received lottery or heritage help during the years 1999, 2000, 2001 and in 2002 to date; and
	How many theatres in North West England have received lottery or heritage help during the years 1999, 2000, 2001 and in 2002 to date.

Baroness Blackstone: I have contacted the Arts Council of England and the Heritage Lottery Fund to request the information required to answer these questions. Once I have the information I will write again and place copies of my letter in the Libraries of both Houses.

Belfast Agreement: Parity of Esteem

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they accept the concept of parity of esteem and parity of treatment for the two traditions on the island of Ireland as set out in the Belfast Agreement of 1998; and
	What direction the Belfast Agreement of 1998 gave to the Northern Ireland Court Service concerning parity of esteem in the provision of guidance and instructions in the languages of Irish and Ulster Scots.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: We accept unhesitatingly all the provisions of the Belfast Agreement. The agreement gives no specific directions to the Northern Ireland Court Service, but it makes a number of provisions concerning the importance of respect, understanding and tolerance in relation to linguistic diversity, including the Irish language and Ulster Scots; and a number of other provisions relating specifically to the Irish language.